There were 32 volunteers that attended the feast from all around the Provence. Ashlee organized everyone preparing a dish and it was a fairly traditional dinner. They had green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, pasta salad and rolls as well as the turkey. The house is meant to hold quite a few less than 32 people, so they were packed in. Andy and Ashlee always get dibs on the sick room in the house as they are the only married couple and it is the only room with a double bed, so they were happy to have their own room. The festivities went on all day and when we talked to them it was evening and they were winding down to a German movie that came from China and was subtitled in English which didn't actually make any sense in the English language. Ashlee had given up on it before we called. It was funny at first, but became annoying.
They had traveled to the BOMA for the week as Ashlee had AIDS training and Andy had to travel to Lusaka to get his tooth repaired. Ashlee went a few days ahead and they are only allowed a limited number of days at the Provincial House. Andy came a few days later and left the next day for Lusaka. He make the journey the next day and stayed with the same young couple. When he arrived at the dentist they informed him that his tooth had been given to someone else. The tooth that was custom made for his mouth. Frustrating! So he returned to the BOMA for Thanksgiving. It is two days travel each was to get to Lusaka, so he was not a happy camper. They will both go next month as Andy does not wish to go make the trip alone again. I guess you can't be too surprised in a country and runs the way that Zambia does, but it still is aggravating.
Ashlee also had an interesting week with AIDS training. Several volunteers were there for the training and they got quite an education. There a couple of interesting stories to share, and Ashlee promised a letter with even greater detail. She said the PC hired a local artist to make several wooden penises for the volunteers to demonstrate how to apply a condom. She said the artist earned his fee as he made the penises anatomically correct in a variety of sizes and colors. She said the volunteers loved them and all decided that they would have to keep them as artwork. This was shocking to the Zambians.
One of the reasons that condom education is difficult is the beliefs the of the people. One man kept saying that they couldn't use the condoms when the women are pregnant. The volunteers were perplexed until the man said he couldn't wear the condom while the baby was in the womb because the baby needs to be watered to survive. So they believe that the man has to water the baby in the womb with his sperm for it to survive. How do you even rebut that one?
Ashlee said that sex is very different in their culture. It is not optional for a wife. She is expected to give it up any time, any place and there is no law against a man raping his own wife. Families also encourage their young daughters to have sex with men in the village as they often receive gifts in exchange. How sad! But I guess to a degree, many American women practice the same kind barter system for sex but at least it is of their own free will.
They are planning to build up their DVD library before coming home. There are all kinds of bootlegged videos. They just bought a DVD of all of Michael Jackson's videos. They also found one that has 20 James Bond movies. Andy was excited by the Best of Jackie Chan. The quality is hit or miss, but they can often get movies that are in the theater for cheap. Occasionally you see a head walk by as they are often filmed in the theater and then reproduced.
The are staying at the Provincial House through Saturday as there is an Olympic themed costume party on Friday night. Costume hunting is fun there are so many cast offs from the states that make for great costumes.
Clothing is a funny thing in Zambia. Ashlee needs a camera at all times to catch some of the hilarious things she sees. Much of the clothing that is sent to Africa is clothing that is rejected by the Christian charities so many people are walking around in vulgar T-shirts with no idea what they say. Men are also often seen in women's clothing which is a riot. Some of the T-shirts they have seen are "I like boys" (homosexuality is illegal) "Where do you want it? The yapper, the snapper or the crapper?", a young boy wearing a Tinker Bell T-shirt that says "You wish you were me" or men running around in "#1 Mom" shirts.
They bought some raw hides for their dog Tosh, but she couldn't figure out what to do with them, so they brought them to the Provincial House dog, Boss. He is a huge dog, twice Penny's size, but is the dumbest dog. They gave him the turkey carcass, and he just stared at it. Pets are a different thing there. The are excited to get their cat when they return home. It is finally big enough to ween. They are planning to name it Cream Puff. Which doesn't relate to the cat's appearance at all, they just think it is funny. Ashlee describes it as a mouse killing machine and hopefully it will be in full effect be the time we visit. This time of year the creatures become more of a pest. Fortunately Andy and Ashlee have a tin roof, but for those unlucky enough to have a thatch roof, the pests are falling into their houses as the rain drove them out of the thatch. Rats, mice, snakes and other creatures have been falling into the huts of the other volunteers. Most will line the insides of their roofs with plastic, but the locals just deal with the inconvenience. Yuck!
The mangoes are finally ready and that is another reason Ashlee is excited to return to their house. She has built a dryer and will try to preserve quite a bit and also wants to make some jams. That part sounds good to me, but you can keep the live turkey, falling rodents, and being used as a sexual ATM.
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